The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1887-06-22
New Publications.

THE AMERICAN AGRICULTURTsT for July
1887, opens with full-page engraving
Among the Daisies" by Cary; another
full-page is devoted to portraits of celebrated
Holstein-Friesan cattle, and still another to
Shetland ponies at home and in America
In all, fifty engravings, representing farm
animals, new implements and farm ap-
paratus, house and barn plans, plants
flowers, household conveniences, etc, EN-
bellish this attractive number. A. b. Allen
the founder of the american Agriculturist
is still contributing to the columns of this
magazine, and fifty other well-known agri-
cultural and horticultural writers treat upon
their special branches of experience and re-
search The Household department is
especially rich in devices and suggestions
both useful and interesting to those for
whom they are intended, and the boys and
girls find in the pages devoted to them a
thrilling Fourth of July story, the Doctors
Talks, and other matters of interest to
young folks. The Humbug columns are, as
usual, racy and fearless in their exposure of
frauds and cheats. Price S1,50 per year,
English or German; single numbers, fifteen
cents. Address American Agriculturist, 751
Broadway, n. Y.
THE table of contents of the Anerican
Magazine for July is remarkable for length
and variety Among its more interesting
articles are the following: Under the title
illustrations, the story of the complete civili-
zation of an Indian tribe on the Northwest
coast They We're fierce Savages-cannibals,
murderers-and regarded as wholly ire
claimable They now have a thriving town,
with good civic government, and they con-
stitute a moral, industrious community.
The Rev. S. w. Culver, president of Bishop
| College (Nlarshal, Texas gives an interest
ing account of the colored schools in the
Southwest. The difficulties to be overcome
in giving education to the negroes of the
South are still very great, but fair degree
of success has been attained, and the prog
ress, though not rapid, is very encouraging.
A promising field of industry for women, in
the cultivation of fruits and flowers, is the
subject of an article by George r. Knapp,
presenting some instances, in detail, of re-
markable success. Tardy justice to southern
ticle by Iitela Cooke. Edna Dean Proctor
offers a graceful tribute in verse to " The
Lady of the White House. The supple
ment contains the short essays of The
American Pulpit letters to the editor on
" Timely Topics" and an illustrated Port
folio " of humorous anecdotes.
THE GREAT HEsPER, by Mr.. Frank Bar
rett %. Appleton & Coz, is an exciting story
of adventure. Mr. Barrett's style is graphic
and powerful He draws his characters
with firm bold touch. They are wholly
life-lil1e. The Great Hesper, diamond OF
enormous value, is found by three miners
in South Africa and with much difficulty
brought by them to England They then
! agree that one of their number, Gentle
man Thorne" by name, shall keep the gem
until a purchaser is found But while they
are waiting it is stolen from him one night,
and the scene that follows, in which the
| thief, Van Voeck, after securing his prize,
seeks to murder his unhappy victim, is per
! haps the most dramatic passage in this start
| ling novel. The character of this blind man,
! Van Noeck, is almost devilish in its artful
| cunning and inhunan cruelty. He is afflicted
with nyctalopia, a disease of the eye
! which renders him able to see at night
although he is totally blind in the daytime
| In Lola, the semi-civilized little half-breed
we have one of Mr.. Barrett's best creations
! In vague, indistinct way she connects the
diamond with Thorne's engagement to Miss
! Lascelles, whom she hates with a woman'S
| wild, unreasoning jealousy, and she argues
blndly that were the diamond lost the en-
gagement would be broken and Thorne
would once more become her kind friend
and possible lover. Accordingly she steals
the gem from Van Noeck and-but we have
already far exceeded the province of re-
viewer, and will therefore leave it to the
reader to find out the thrilling and tragic
| end.
THE LIFE OF HENRY WARD BEECHER
written by Joseph Howard, Jr., and pub
lished by Hubbard Brothers of Philadelphia
is work which possesses the three prime
requisites of "A popular and model biography
! it is accurate it is interesting and it il
timely. 1t is an accurate reflection of tina
many-sided man" of whom the author
speaks so feelingy in his preface TIL,
book is no fulsome eulogy. Perhaps it,
greatest value is due to the fact that mucl
of its material is drawn from sources tina
were accessible only to the great preache
himself and to the few who, like Mr.. How
ard, were honored with his confidence anC
intimate friendship. Mr.. Howard lets il
the light upon the great divine's inner lif'
by permitting him to speak for himsel
through countless little anecdotes and rem
iniscences, and through many of the gifte(
preachers personal letters, which hav,
never been published hitherto. The al
vantages which the biographer has enjoyed
from having grown up III Mr.. Beecher'
near and intimate circle in Plymouth
church have been utilized to the best ad
vantage by the authors facile pen. No ont
who reads Mr. Towards Life of Beecher i
likely to complain that il is dull or dry.
The work is as timely, too, as it is accurate
and interesting. Popular interest in tn
character and deeds of the great orator ha
had little time to abate in the few week
that have passed since his body was carrie,
from Plymouth church, buried under pal
of roses. For the scope of the work it /
enough TO say that il is complete, covering
Mr.. Beecher's eventful life from chldhoo
down to the peaceful death-bed scene il
Brooklyn last March, and the great demon
stration of sorrow that came spontaneous
from his city, his nation and the world
geographically the book is all that coul
be asked, and its profuse illustrations Civ
it additional value. The frontispiece-
superb steel plate, taken from one @
Sarony's photographs, the last prior to NJ MI
Beechers DEATHS probably the best like
ness of Plymouth's great pastor that ha
ever been secured.